The Sony a6400 is an E-mount mirrorless camera with APS-C Sensor, meaning it’s a crop-sensor. It’s lightweight, compact, and built well.
Sony a6400 overview
The Sony a6400 is a fantastic mirrorless camera with a crop-sensor. It’s $899, which means it’s great if you aren’t looking to spend more than $1,000 on a camera.
Related: Everything you need to know about mirrorless cameras
The a6400 was the improved version of the beloved a6300. If you’re getting started with photography, this is a great place to start. It also takes great videos because it has fast autofocus, higher ISO range, and a flip-up LCD screen.
Specifications
The Sony a6400 specifications are as follows:
Lens mount: Sony E-Mount.
Sensor Type: APS-C (1.5x crop factor) Exmor CMOS sensor.
Focus control: Automatic and manual focus.
Autofocus points: 425 points.
Focus modes: AF-A (Automatic AF), AF-S (Single-shot AF), AF-C (Continuous AF), DMF (Direct Manual Focus), Manual Focus.
Number of pixels: 24.2 effective megapixels and 25 total megapixels.
ISO sensitivity: 100 to 25,600 (Extended Mode can range from 100 to 51,200).
Battery life: Approximately 360 shots with the viewfinder and 410 with the LCD monitor.
Dust reduction system: Yes
Viewfinder type: 1 centimeter electronic viewfinder.
Dimensions: 4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.9″
Weight: 14.25 ounces with the battery and memory card.
Recording format: XAVC S, AVCHD format Ver. 2.0 compliant.
Video compression: XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264.
Audio recording format: XAVC S: LPCM 2ch, AVCHD: Dolby® Digital (AC-3) 2ch, Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator.
Video clip length: Up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
How it compares to other Sony Alpha cameras
When you compare the a6400 with the a6300, they look almost identical. The a6300 was released in 2016, while the a6400 came out in 2019.
Although they look similar, the a6400 was released with several improvements. How does it compare to the a6300 and a6500?
| Sony a6300 | Sony a6400 | Sony a6500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (body only) | $999 | $899 | $1,199 |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 24.2 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Max Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2,359,296 pixels | 2,359,296 pixels | 2,359,296 pixels |
| 4K Video | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Display Format | 921,600 pixels | 921,600 pixels | 921,600 pixels |
| Sensor | Crop-sensor | Crop-sensor | Crop-sensor |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Max ISO | 51,200 | 102,400 | 51,200 |
| Image Processor | BIONZ X | BIONZ X | BIONZ X |
| Sensor Dust Reduction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Viewfinder Magnification | 1.07x | 1.07x | 1.07x |
| Digital Zoom | 4x | 4x | 4x |
| Dimensions | 4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.9″ | 4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.9″ | 4 3/4″ x 2 3/4″ x 2 1/8″ |
| Weight | 14.25 ounces | 14.25 ounces | 11.5 ounces |
What users are saying
For the money, the a6400 is an incredible camera. The following are snippets of what users are saying:
“Awesome quality, extremely powerful and impressive features.”
“The new BIONZ chip affords a welcomed faster auto-focus response with a higher degree of accuracy.”
“This camera is fast, precise, and an overall workhorse.”
“Very little post editing required!”
“Focus speed and accuracy is amazing and I am having much better white balance results with the Sony compared to my Nikons.”
“This camera takes pin sharp photos and has really good autofocus.”
“I’ve been using the a6300 since it was introduced and loved it. The a6400 however is an excellent upgrade and well worth the asking price.”
Related: 10 best portrait lenses for Sony cameras
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sony a6400 weather-sealed?
Sony states that the a6400 is sealed to keep out moisture and dust. If it’s raining very hard, you should be careful with the camera.
Does it have a clean HDMI output?
Yes.
Does it have in-body image stabilization?
No, it doesn’t have IBIS, which is one of the downsides.
Conclusion
Sony’s a6400 is an excellent choice for photographers and videographers. For being a compact and lightweight camera, it’s powerful.
Although professionals should choose other cameras, if you’re a beginner or hobby photographer, the APS-C sensor is sufficient. The a6400 has fast and accurate autofocus, which helps you quickly take sharp photos.
More resources:
Featured image courtesy of Adorama.
About David Em
David Em is the founder of Portraits Refined. He’s a published portrait photographer dedicated to helping photographers develop skills, capture incredible photos, and build successful businesses.